New H.I.V. Infection Found in Sex-Film Industry

By NICK MADIGAN

Published: April 30, 2004

LOS ANGELES, April 29—
Health officials on Thursday confirmed a third case of H.I.V. infection among actors in the pornography industry.

Sharon Mitchell, the director of a clinic that is testing hundreds of performers for H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, said the latest infection had been detected in a 26-year-old woman from the Czech Republic who worked on a sex-video on March 23 with Darren James, the first actor here known to have been infected in the outbreak.

Ms. Mitchell, who informed the Czech actress of her condition on Thursday morning, did not identify her, but confirmed a report on the Adult Video News Web site that her stage name is Jessica Dee. Four tests were used to establish the presence of the virus.

''She's been counseled,'' said Ms. Mitchell, the director of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation. ''No one is ever very happy about getting H.I.V., but she's taking to counseling very well and she is already on antiretroviral therapy, early H.I.V. meds.''

Another actress who had worked with Mr. James, Lara Roxx, a Canadian, was found to have the virus two weeks ago.

The outbreak, which involves the first known cases of H.I.V. in the San Fernando Valley sex-video industry since 1999, has forced a 60-day halt to filming while performers are tested and re-tested for the virus. It is believed to have been brought in by Mr. James from Brazil, where he was working on a film in early March.

Ms. Mitchell said Thursday that she had contacted Brazilian health officials to try to trace the virus on the São Paulo film location. She said she believed it was linked to a young actress who had had sex with Mr. James in the film. She declined to name the actress and said her identity had been provided not by Mr. James but by ''an outside source.''

Ms. Mitchell said she had yet to ascertain whether the Brazilian actress knew that she had the virus at the time she worked with Mr. James.

Health investigators in Los Angeles have obtained the legal names and medical files of about 65 performers here who were known to have had sexual contact with Mr. James and Ms. Roxx, or with someone else who had sex with them. The investigation will presumably now be expanded to include anyone who had sexual contact with Ms. Dee.

Mr. James is believed to have worked with 12 actresses in Los Angeles after his return from Brazil. He was tested for H.I.V. immediately, but the result was negative. A later test was positive.

The pornography industry, which is based nationally in the San Fernando Valley, turns out some 4,000 films and videos a year in the shadow of Hollywood and brings in $5 billion to $9 billion a year, economists here say. The higher number almost equals the amount brought in by mainstream studio and independent films last year in the United States and Canada.

The moratorium on filming is to last at least until June 8. About 65 performers have been placed under quarantine, meaning they cannot work until they are cleared. Many other actors have voluntarily agreed to tests beyond the normal once a month.

About 1,200 performers in the industry are monitored once a month for H.I.V., chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Most tests are conducted at the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation's offices in the Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills neighborhoods.

Health professionals estimate that there are 40,000 new H.I.V. infections around the country every year.